In 1902, Tokyo Senmon Gakkō celebrated the 20th anniversary of its foundation, when it was re-named Waseda University. It was two years later, i. e. in 1904, when Lafcadio Hearn was invited to teach at the University.
The aim of this article is to inquire into what his days at Waseda meant to himself as well as to the University. It seems to me indispensable for the study of Lafcadio Hearn to bring to light his days there, which was in fact the last stage of his life in Japan. To this day a lot of articles and books on his life and works in Japan have been published, but there are few, if not none, that treat of this theme.
Referring to the documents I have recently found in the University, I have tried here to clarify what the circumstances surrounding him at that time really were.
They were as follows :
(1) Tsubouchi Shōyō, who was one of the leading figures in the University, played an important part in inviting Hearn to Waseda.
(2) The students of the Department of Literature petitioned the University to invite him.
(3) He was invited with an exceptionally high salary to serve as the University’s “figurehead”.
(4) The subjects he taught were;
I. March-July, 1904. a. History of English Literature in the 19th Century. b. Modern English Poems.
II. Sept. 1904 - July 1905. (during which term he was to teach but died on 26th September 1904) a. History of English Literature. b. Modern English Literature.
(5) From among those students whom he taught there emerged a number of well-known poets, writers and men of letters.
